bookreaders2004 Review of The Story of Esther Costello

The Story of Esther Costello (1957)

Oddly engrossing, and may have influenced the rock opera TOMMY

[7/10 · 8 October 2013]

This strange film has a wildly melodramatic plot that is treated in a surprisingly subtle way, but it also bears a strange resemblance to the Who's TOMMY (it's probably the other way around as this film came first.) SPOILERS ABOUND-1. Irish Esther's (Heather Sears) parents die in WWII; she loses her senses of sight, hearing and speech psychosomatically in a violent incident. She is mistreated and tied up by her aunt; English Tommy's (Roger Daltrey) father dies in World War II (in the film, not the album). He loses his senses psychosomatically and is beaten by his cousin. 2. Esther's guilt-ridden adoptive mother (Joan Crawford) and sleazy stepfather (Rosanno Brazzi) exploit the girl to raise money for a quasi-religious charity and make tons of money. Esther spawns a tasteless merchandising boom and commands huge rallies; Tommy has roughly the same experience with his guilt-ridden mother (Ann-Margret) and sleazy stepfather (Oliver Reed). 3. Esther is raped by her stepfather; the shock brings her senses back; Tommy is sexually abused by his uncle (Keith Moon). Later, he regains his senses in a violent incident. 4. Esther's adoptive parents die violently; Tommy's parents die violently (again, in the film, not the album). 5. Both films were made in the U.K. Did Pete Townshend see "Esther" as a child and unconsciously incorporate parts of it into Tommy, which is a brilliant album? Maybe.